Alaska Becomes First U.S. State to Open COVID-19 Vaccinations to Anyone Age 16 and Older

Photo: Dustin Safranek/Ketchikan Daily News via APAlaska is leading the U.S. in the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine, with anyone age 16 or older that lives or works in the state now able to get vaccinated.“This historic step is yet another nationwide first for Alaska, but it should come as no surprise,” Gov. Mike Dunleavy said in astatementon Tuesday. “Since day one, your response to the pandemic has been hands-down the best in the nation.

Alaska Community on Edge After Brown Bear Kills Missing Man — Then Mauls Member of Search Party

Officials in Alaska are searching for a brown bear that, they say, killed a missing hiker then mauled a member of the man’s search party. Michael Soltis, 44, went missing during a hike on Monday, and was found dead on Wednesday of a bear attack in Eagle River, theAnchorage Police Departmentsaid in a press release. Around that time, a brown bear attacked a member of the search party that had been looking for the man.

Alaska Democrat Mary Peltola Wins Full Term in House, Defeating Sarah Palin a Second Time This Year

Mary Peltola.Photo: Ash Adams for The Washington Post via Getty Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola won the crowded Alaska House race on Wednesday, securing her first full term in Congress. Peltola, 49, made headlines only three months ago when she pulled off an upset win in Alaska’s special House election,defeating a pool of Republicansthat included former Alaska governor and onetime vice presidential candidateSarah Palin, and Nick Begich III, the grandson of former Alaska Rep.

Alaska Father and Son Convicted of Illegally Slaughtering Sleeping Black Mother Bear and 2 Cubs

Photo: Getty An Alaska father and son were sentenced Tuesday to jail time and hefty fines for slaughtering a female black bear and her two terrified newborn cubs, who “began shrieking” in their den after their mother was shot to death, PEOPLE confirms. The Attorney General’s Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment. The men faced misdemeanor charges of unlawful take of a female bear with cubs, unlawful take of bear cubs, and the possession and transportation of illegally taken game.

Alaska Father of 7 Gets New Heart After Winter Weather Caused Him to Miss Scheduled Transplant

Patrick Holland.Photo: GoFundMe An Alaska man who spent months waiting for a transplant has finally received his new heart. Patrick Holland, a 57-year-old father of seven with congestive heart failure, wasoriginally scheduled to receive a heart transplantat Seattle’s University of Washington Medical Center in December, according toCNN. However, when winter weather grounded all flights, his heart was given to somebody else. That same week, he decided to temporarily move to Seattle so he wouldn’t “miss another chance,” he said during an interview withAlaska Public Radio.